Human Rights Awards to Be Presented May 17

Banquet Reservations Required by May 4

The Fairfax County Human Rights Commission will present its 29th annual
Human Rights Awards at a banquet on Thursday, May 17, at 6:30 p.m. at
Greenspring Village, 7400 Spring Village Drive, Springfield. The guest
speaker will be Michael Anthony Mason, an executive assistant director
for the FBI and one of its highest ranking African-American agents.

To make a reservation and pay for tickets, or for more information about
the banquet, call the Human Rights Commission at 703-324-2953, TTY
703-324-2900. Reservations and advanced payment are required by Friday,
May 4. Tickets are $50 per person.

The awards recognize individuals, nonprofits or businesses that
demonstrate accomplishments in eliminating discrimination on the basis of
race, color, sex, religion, national origin, marital status, age or
disability in the areas of employment, housing, public accommodations,
private education and credit.

The 2006 award winners are:

Frank Palmer — Individual Category Palmer has raised millions of dollars for needy and at-risk county
residents and encouraged others to assist people in need, especially the
homeless. Because of his efforts — all as a volunteer — he has equipped
those who need help with skills and motivation to secure their own human
rights and human dignity.

Greenspring Village Volunteer Program — Business Category This retirement community operates a volunteer program that teaches
English as a second language, engages high school students, and reaches
out to people with disabilities. Volunteers for their ESL program spent
2,250 hours teaching English last year. More than 175 people have
benefited from this program, with more than 50 students earning
certificates last year. Every year, Greenspring also engages 45 to 50
high school students, including students with disabilities, in volunteer
activities at the community. Volunteers also provide pet therapy for
MVLE, a local organization that works with adults with disabilities.

Northern Virginia Long-Term Care Volunteer Ombudsman Program —
Organization Category Established in 1985, the program acts as the ombudsman for the
elderly and people with disabilities who receive long-term care. The
program’s 72 volunteer ombudsmen make weekly visits to nursing homes and
assisted living facilities, ensuring that residents are receiving the
highest quality of care, assisting them to advocate for themselves, and
mediating and resolving complaints with these facilities. Volunteers made
3,323 visits, contributed 7,151 hours and handled 419 complaints during
2005.

Rolling Productions Inc. — Virginia Peters Human Rights Award This nonprofit company produces videos to increase awareness,
promote sensitivity and educate people about disability issues. For
example, the company wrote and directed a film to educate the public
about affordable, accessible housing for wheelchair users in Northern
Virginia. Rolling Productions also was instrumental in creating CHOICE —
the Coalition for Housing Opportunities in the Community for Everyone — a
nonprofit dedicated to increasing housing options for people with
disabilities.

The Human Rights Commission was established in 1974 by the Fairfax
County Board of Supervisors to eliminate discrimination on the basis of
race, color, sex, religion, national origin, marital status, age or
disability in the areas of employment, housing, public accommodations,
private education and credit.

Fairfax County is committed to nondiscrimination on the basis of
disability in all county programs, services and activities. To request
this information in an alternate format, call the Office of Public
Affairs at 703-324-3187, TTY 711.